80’s at 8 Rockturnal With Scotty B Friday 05-12-23
Portrait of the members of American Rock group Zebra as they pose backstage at Chicagofest, Chicago, Illinois, August 11, 1983. Pictured are, from left, Randy Jackson, Felix Hanemann, and Guy Gelso. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
It was a Progressive Rock theme 80’s at 8 tonight , and the first track was “Bears” by Zebra. That sounds very weird when said together. Zebra is a rock band that rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s with their unique blend of hard rock and progressive rock. One of their most iconic songs is “Bears,”It was released in 1983 as a single from Zebra’s second album, “No Tellin’ Lies.” The song was a moderate hit for the band, reaching #30 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #44 on the Hot 100. It’s a song that is steeped in metaphorical imagery and powerful symbolism. At its core, it is a song about loss and the pain that comes with it. The song’s opening lines immediately set the tone for the rest of the track, with lead singer Randy Jackson singing, “I saw the bears / They were waiting for me / And I knew right then / That I was in trouble. “The bears in the song represent the looming specter of death, waiting to pounce on the protagonist at any moment. As the song progresses, Jackson sings about the fear and anxiety that he feels in the face of this impending doom. He sings about the memories that he holds onto and the hope that he clings to, even as the bears draw ever closer. Despite not achieving the same level of success as their debut album, “No Tellin’ Lies” remains a fan favorite among Zebra’s dedicated following. And while “Bears” may not have been their biggest hit, it stands as a testament to the band’s talent for crafting emotionally resonant songs that have stood the test of time. The music video has Zebra performing Bears in a very 80’s staged forest scene. We have come so far with technology as you will see by checking out the music video for Bears by Zebra below:
CANADA – MARCH 20: Rock trio Triumph; Rik Emmett; Mike Levine and Gil Moore are set to perform at Maple Leaf Gardens tonight. Band’s performance at Massey Hall last month has cancelled because hall’s board of governors said it couldn’t handle the sound-and-light show. (Photo by Jeff Goode/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
The second track in tonight’s 80’s at 8 was geared to get you pumped for the weekend baby! It was I Live for the Weekend by the Canadian progressive rock band Triumph. Its from their fourth album that was released in 1980 titled Powers of Progression. It’s an album that has stood the test of time. Its combination of hard-hitting rock anthems and more experimental, progressive tracks make it a standout release in Triumph’s catalog. And while “I Live for the Weekend” may be the most well-known track from the album, the album as a whole is a must-listen for fans of classic rock and progressive rock. The album reached number 32 on the Billboard 200 album chart and was the band’s highest-charting album to date. “I Live for the Weekend,” which became the band’s only charting single in the United Kingdom, peaking at #59. “Progressions of Power” was re-released several times over the years, including a 1985 re-release on MCA Records and a 1995 re-release on TRC Records. In 2005, the album was remastered and reissued on the band’s own label, TML Entertainment (formerly known as TRC Records). Unfortunately, their is no music video for “I Live for the Weekend” but you can take a listen to it below:
